December 4, 2008
Best restaurants for summer
All you can drink brunch
Who says the party has to end when the sun comes up? Restaurants that feature unlimited drink specials on weekend mornings help keep the celebration going (or act as a cure for the night before). Here are some of our favorite bottomless brunch spots around town.
Bargain bites
Everybody likes a bargain, and we especially like a dinnertime bargain. Here are some of our favorites.
Tavern: A jewel on the green
It's a tradition among New York's glutterati to dismiss Tavern on the Green as an overdecorated tourist trap that serves catering-hall fare.
Steak frites to die for
While you can¹t throw a stone without hitting a French bistro in this town, the same can¹t be said for a quality serving of steak frites. This en francais version of meat and potatoes calls for soft, fall-off-the-bone-tender beef, and thin, crisp fries. Here's where to get them.
Spicy food to cool off summer
Strange but true: hot food really does cool you off. How? Spices make you sweat, and your body temp dips. These are some of the most sizzling dishes on earth, cooked right here for chilling out a la NYC.
Cool soups for a hot summer
If only the weather could make up its mind. One day it pours, the next day it swelters. While the cold days put one in the mood for soup, the warm days dictate it be of the chilled, soothing variety. Below, we¹ve listed some the city¹s best cool soups.
NY's top scoops
As if you need an excuse to go out for ice cream in this weather, it's National Ice Cream Month. So step out of your air-conditioned cocoon and treat yourself to the scoop of your choice, whether a simple vanilla cone under the Brooklyn Bridge or an exotic cup of wasabi in Chinatown. There's no better relief from the heat.
Street food without the street
If you think the San Gennaro festival is your only shot at scoring delectable street foods--think again: upscale eateries are serving festival foods like cotton candy, zeppole, and corn dogs to comfort-food craving customers. Here's where you can find the tasty treats:
Best beer gardens
Between 1820 and 1860, 1.5 million immigrants arrived in America from Germany, bringing with them their own cultural traditions -- among them outdoor beer gardens. Unlike the bars in Irish neighborhoods, the German beer gardens catered to whole families, and public drinking was just one of their attractions. Although many of New York¹s historic beer gardens have disappeared, this summer you can still enjoy a cold one at any of these authentic beer gardens around the city.
Oysters however you like them
Since oysters are supposed to be an aphrodisiac, what better time to indulge than on St. Valentine's Day? Here, some of our favorite place to get them.
Lobster: on a roll
As the weather heats up, we go looking for that ultimate New England treat: lobster rolls. Here's where we found them.
Dinner al Fresco - Some Not To Miss
Romantic or boisterous. Here are some favorite places for dining under the stars.
10 Bars That Serve Up Frosty Sips
A sampling of bars throughout the city where you can kick back with something cold.
Tried and True Neighborhood Restaurants
The city's neighborhood restaurants serve up well-prepared comfort food.
Beer Gardens, Wine Bars -- and a Margarita Cafe
There's nothing better than a late-afternoon break for an ice-cold bevvie and a snack.
Dinner in the garden
Dinner in the garden is one of the best ideas summer ever had. While backyard patios are scarce among the skyscrapers, there is no dearth of restaurants where you can sit outdoors among the trees and chow down on cooking that ranges from Italian elegance to homey all-American standards.
Where to have a summer brunch
Whether you're looking for pancakes or something a little more esoteric -- a big bowl of melie pap, say, or tea-smoked salmon -- here's where to go on a summery Sunday.
They're the tops
Even the most plebian of rooftop restaurants takes on a certain glamour based solely on its distance from street level. Here are some of our favorite places at the top of the town.
Barbecue New York
Barbecue is booming in New York these days. The perfume of the pits wafts from Woodbury woodpiles and West Village meeting places, from mobile pits in Rego Park and Staten Island to multimillion-dollar restaurants all over Manhattan.
Eat cheap
Everybody has a favorite restaurant. But what everybody wants to know is: Where do you go for a meal on the cheap? Here are some of our favorite places where you can eat well, and not break the bank.
Lobster your way
Lobster -- broiled, steamed, stuffed, or mixed with mayo in a salad -- is the quintessential taste of summer. Here are some of our favorite places to find it.
Late night
In the season that never sleeps, you need a restaurant that never sleeps. Or at least one that does with the least amount of shut-eye possible. Here, 10 of our favorite places that keep the kitchen open till all hours.
Great Tacos
The burning question is: Can you get a decent taco in New York? The prevailing wisdom says no. Now, we know the BQE isn't the PCH and Woodside isn't Santa Monica. But, hey, sometimes a fish taco is just a fish taco. Here are some worth a try.
Great salads
On a warm summer evening it's hard to beat a salad for a refreshing dinner. Here are some of our favorites.
Where to get a great fish
Where do you get a great fish? There are, of course, the iconic lobster roll places -- like Mary's or Pearl -- but there's a slew of other fish places. Here are some of our favorites.
Red, white and BBQ
When New Yorkers do something, we do it right, and nowadays, the city is one of the country's best BBQ towns. You can find every style of pit-smoked pork and beef here, and it's all good.
Shore thing: 10 places to dine by the water
Here is a selection of places to eat -- or just sip a drink -- by the water's edge.
